The Case Against Kurdish Independence. By Luay al-Khatteeb*

Luay Al-Khatteeb

Representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government (K.R.G.) are currently in the process of shaping the information environment ahead of a desired referendum on Kurdish independence. Aside from a lobbying campaign strongly focused on Washington—the K.R.G. has spent more on lobbying in the United States than Pakistan—leaders have been making provocative statements regarding

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Iraqi oil exports at record levels despite country’s woes. By Walid Khadduri*

  In oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk, stand-off remains over Baghdad’s March decision to suspend crude oil exports through Turkey. Beirut - Iraq has maintained record crude oil export levels, registering 3.175 million barrels per day (bpd) in May and June, despite no crude oil exports from Kirkuk through the Turkish port of Ceyhan due to renewed political problems

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This Isn’t Saudi Arabia’s First ISIS Problem. By Abbas Kadhim*

Download PDF: This Isn't Saudi Arabia's First ISIS Problem. By Abbas Kadhim Since the appearance of the self-described Islamic State—formerly the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)—many analysts tried to trace its political, historical, and ideological genesis. In this article I will draw the attention to some striking parallels between ISIL and the Saudi Ikhwan, an

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